Urgent action is underway to protect children from polio in Namibia's Kavango regions. The Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched a crucial vaccination campaign targeting children under 10 years old in Kavango East and Kavango West. This initiative, which began on Monday and concludes on Thursday, is a direct response to a concerning discovery.
Two instances of poliovirus type 2 were identified through environmental surveillance at the Ndama sewage site in the Kavango East region. This alarming finding prompted immediate action, with the World Health Organization (WHO) Namibia and its partners stepping in to support the Ministry of Health.
To bolster the response, the WHO team organized a clinician sensitization meeting at Rundu Intermediate Hospital. The goal was to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed for early detection, accurate case reporting, and timely intervention. This proactive approach aims to safeguard communities and reinforce surveillance efforts.
But here's where it gets controversial... Despite these efforts, Namibia faces a significant risk of polio outbreaks. This is due to low detection rates of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in neighboring districts. AFP case detection is a critical indicator of how well the surveillance system is working.
On Monday, Roselina de Wee, a representative from the WHO, announced a donation of N$2.1 million to support operational activities in the two regions. Furthermore, the Angolan Consulate in Rundu contributed five megaphones to the Ministry of Health, aiding in community mobilization efforts.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is also working tirelessly to achieve its global goal of eradicating wild poliovirus (WPV). Sensitive surveillance systems are more important than ever. The current surveillance methods rely on AFP surveillance and environmental surveillance to detect WPV, vaccine-derived poliovirus, and Sabin-like viruses.
And this is the part most people miss... Neighboring countries, Angola and Zambia, have confirmed cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2. Angola, in particular, recorded a case as recently as 2025.
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